QUESTION Is there anything in writing you can provide regarding use of red body ceramic tiles as shower floors? I generally don’t recom- mend high water-absorption prod- ucts in showers. I realize the glazes are impervious, but I have seen failures when the body of the tile has a high water absorption >7% and in some cases >10%. Is this addressed anywhere in the NTCA guide either for or against it? ANSWER I discussed this with several mem- bers of our technical team. As you and I also discussed on the phone, we are not aware of any item in the industry standards, including ANSI A137.1, ANSI A108, the methods and best practices found in the TCNA Handbook or the NTCA Reference Manual that describe whether it may be acceptable to install a red-bodied ceramic tile in a wet area such as a shower floor. The best basis we have to go on is whether this is a floor tile and whether the manufacturer recom- mends it for installation on floors in wet areas. LATICRETE University is a leading e-learning program dedicated to providing vital industry and product information in short, easy online tutorials. Topics include the STRATA_ HEAT™ Radiant Floor Heating System, Tile and Stone Installation Systems and STONETECH® Surface Care and Maintenance, among others. Based on the company’s award- winning Profit Through Knowledge (PTK) technical seminars, all LATICRETE University programs are self-paced, making it possible for distributors, dealers, installers and other flooring professionals to effec- tively learn about new products, modern technology and best prac- tices from the comfort of their home or office. Upon the successful completion of a segment, users can print a certificate or have it emailed to themselves for their employee train- ing records. www.laticrete.com. ASK THE EXPERTS –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ASK THE EXPERTS is sponsored by Image courtesy of Bedrosians Tile & Stone 30 TileLetter | July 2019